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36 WWW.UNWLA.ORG “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЧЕРВЕНЬ 2017 Finding Inner Peace by Ihor Magun , MD, FACP Travel is something that I have always found to be an educational experience. It provides a look at life from a different perspective. For me it brings meaning to the phrase “It’s not what you see, it’s how you see it.” I recently had the opportunity to travel to Asia and, in keeping with my philosophy on travel goals, put this phrase into practice. Dur- ing this trip, I visited Vietnam, Thailand, and Hong Kong. I enjoyed seeing the sights, but as a physi- cian, I was particularly interested in observing how the locals take care of their health. For anyone even remotely familiar with Asian cultures, it is of no surprise that the first approach to maintaining good health is in the form of what we would con- sider alternative medicine. Western medicine approaches disease with the premise that it is caused by some pathogen or deterioration of a body part. The standard app- roach to combatting the problem is pharmaceuti- cal or surgical. The Asian view of health is more preemptive and begins with maintaining a balance between the physical, social, and supernatural en- vironment. This belief has a profound impact on clinical care. The Eastern approach begins with the premise that the body is whole and that each organ has a mental and physical function. This system of beliefs can be summarized as the yin and the yang. These opposites are connected via a circular har- mony. Harmony means health and disharmony leads to disease. The strategy of treatment is to re- store harmony by incorporating good health prac- tices that conform to natural principles. When addressing nutrition, for example, many Westerners rely on vitamins to supplement their not always healthy diets. Most Asians have a decidedly different approach. They eat very healthy meals, incorporating spices in place of fatty supplements. They rely heavily on fresh pro- duce and rice. Fish is eaten frequently, even for breakfast. Obesity is rare in any age group. One ever-present staple of life is tea. There are many types of teas, and these are not only consumed for pure beverage enjoyment; the infinite variety of teas and combination of teas are routinely used to treat common ailments. Local merchants, in fact, recommend specific types of tea depending on a customer’s symptoms. Exercise is a normal life routine. The incor- poration of tai chi into a daily schedule, for exam- ple, is a practice for young and old and all ages in between. You can see this philosophy in practice everywhere—at any park or outdoor facility. Yoga is another popular form of exercise and a partial treatment for certain ailments, from easing the dis- comfort of arthritis to reducing blood pressure. Positive human interaction is a lifestyle. People socialize everywhere. Walk down any street and you see and sense the friendly connection they have with each other. Despite the fact that I did not understand what was spoken, the smiles and laughter were practically contagious. One thing that was underscored for me during this trip was that despite many cultural dif- ferences, the basic needs of all humans are very similar. As Americans, most of us live in a hectic and fast-paced social environment, and this leads to all manner of stressors that alter the “balance” that keeps us healthy. The title of my article reflects a conscious goal that was prompted or at least re- inforced by what I witnessed during my trip to Asia: a commitment to finding inner peace. It is a concept I wish to share with my patients and with readers of this column. The overarching goal is to begin to incor- porate some of the things I witnessed and experi- enced to help achieve inner peace. This requires some work, but does not mean an instant and rad- ical change in lifestyle. You do not have to start drinking teas or enroll in tai chi classes. What it does mean is recognizing that inner peace is a per- sonal feeling that only you know how to achieve. You have to discover it and work at it; during this journey, you will learn that inner mental peace leads to better physical health. I hope you start working at it. I know, I have, and I already feel bet- ter. First keep peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others. Thomas A. Kempis (1420) Traveling is almost like talking with men of other centuries . René Descartes (1637) Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Gautama Buddha (c. 450 BCE)
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